The District Middle School Honors Orchestra and Band is a week day or weekend event held in January and April. Students are recommended by their directors and invited to play in the band or orchestra. We perform 4-5 selections on a concert with a Guest Conductor. There is a small entry fee for the weekend which includes a meal, music, t-shirt, instruction, and a CD of the performance. This is a great opportunity for top musicians from all over our District to rehearse and perform as one ensemble.

The purpose of the Michigan Music Conference is to provide an annual in-service opportunity for the professional development of Michigan music educators and to serve as a coordinating body for collaborative, inter-association initiatives in support of school music in Michigan.

An additional and unique component of the Michigan Music Conference is the Technology Pre-Conference event – a premier showcasing of new technology being used in music curriculums. It provides a hands-on opportunity to educators who want to incorporate the latest technology into their lesson plans.

The membership of the Michigan Music Conference is comprised of the boards of directors of the:
MASTA – Michigan Chapter, American String Teachers Association
MMEA – Michigan Music Educators Association
MSBOA – Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association
MSVMA – Michigan School Vocal Music Association

The MSBOA State Jazz Festivals provide adjudication for both traditional “Big Band” ensembles and Combos. The festival is unclassified. The “Big Bands” are adjudicated by a panel of three judges and a fourth judge evaluates sight reading. The groups have free choice of music although it is recommended that one selection come from the Basic Music List. In sight reading, the director selects a piece of music, rehearses it with the group for 10 minutes and then performs the number. The judge then clinics and rehearses the group for 10 minutes. The sight reading session is not a part of the final rating. The combos are are now a part of the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Each Combo is adjudicated by one judge. Each combo must play a minimum of two selections of contrasting style. Improvisation is an integral part of the performance.

Band and Orchestra Festival is an opportunity for ensembles from member schools to perform a program of three pieces for adjudication, one of which must be from MSBOA’s required list. District-level festivals are held at the end of February through the beginning of March. Each group is evaluated by three performance judges and one sight-reading judge.

Ensembles are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being the highest rating possible. The overall score is computed using a formula which combines the ratings of each judge. Ensembles that earn an overall 1 rating (or “Superior”) are qualified for State Band & Orchestra Festival which is held in late April or early May. The basic structure of State Band & Orchestra Festival is the same as District, but the ensembles are held to a higher standard. Participating ensembles that earn a rating of 1 or 2 at District or State Festivals receive a certificate and are eligible to purchase plaques for display at their school and medals for each student.

Four ensembles are selected from recorded auditions: a Middle School String Orchestra, a Middle School Band, a High School Full Orchestra and a High School Band.

Students must prepare an announced etude, a series of scales and sight-read during each 10 minute recorded audition. Each audition is submitted using only an identification number with no reference to the student or school. The auditions are evaluated by an adjudicator and placed in order. The required number of instruments is selected to fill each section. An average of over 2,000 students audition each year for the 400 seats in our four ensembles.

In January the students assemble for two and a half days of rehearsal with nationally recognized conductors. A concert is held on the Saturday of the Michigan Music Conference.

MSBOA Marching Band Festivals are held at the District level only. There is not a State Marching Band Festival. At the Festival, Marching Bands are adjudicated by three judges one in each of the following captions: Music, Marching and General Effect Showmanship. A group may enter any classification the director chooses. A final rating is determined by a predominance of ratings. Each band has a 15 minute block of time to enter the field, perform their show and exit the field.

Solo & Ensemble Festival is an opportunity for individual students from member schools to perform a selection of their choice for adjudication. Middle School Solo/Ensemble is held in early December and the High School Festival is late January.

Each student or group of students is evaluated by one judge and rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the highest rating possible. Students or groups that earn a rating of 1 (or “Superior”) are qualified for State Solo & Ensemble Festival which is held in March. The basic structure of State Solo & Ensemble Festival is the same as District, but the students are held to a higher standard. Soloists in grades 10 through 12 must perform Proficiency Exams which include scales and sight reading. Students and ensembles that are chosen for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Band, Orchestra, Soloists and Ensembles come from the highest rated events at the State Festival. Participating students that earn a rating of 1 or 2 at District or State Festivals are eligible to purchase medals.